Re: She Doesn't Believe I Have Endo (Long)
From: Angie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Mar 3 14:06:08 2006
I have realized that it is harder to deal with people who knew someone
who had/has Endo because they only know from what that person has told
him or her. Your mother-in-law sounds like a good woman who only has
your best interest in mind. If you have been diagnosed with Endo and
believe in your docs credentials I would just tell her that you trust
your doc and that if you get any relief from your symptoms you will
continue on your journey to fight this disease. If in fact i is
something else you will find out when no treatments help.
Yesterday I sent out Heather's Endo letter to my friends and family
trying to raise awareness. I had a friend of mine write back telling me
she was diagnosed with mild Endo when she was 19. She said she had
laser surgery and was cured. I asked her what treatments she had been
pt on and she said none for Endo but ever since her surgery she had been
on continuous birth control and has never been off it. She also said
she had never heard of anyone that has had Endo as long as me and didn't
get relief from laser surgery. I just told her their are many women out
there who is going through my exact situation and very rarely does laser
surgery "cure" Endo. I didn't have the heart to tell her to go off her
BCPs and see how she would start to feel. But my point is, it is hard
to convince people who have dealt with Endo and has misconceptions of
the disease.
So good luck to you and just remember she has your best interest at
heart even if it is a pain in the bum.
At Fri, 3 Mar 2006, JoCee27 wrote:
>
>My mother-in-law said something to me earlier that really bothered me.
>We were talking about my endo and ovarian cysts and about the pain I was
>having all the time. She listened attentively as I go into telling her
>how it feels and describing the pain and aggravation of living with such
>a thing. Well, all of the sudden she says to me: "I don't think you
>have endometriosis; I think it's something else." She is very supportive
>so please don't think she's one of those whacked out mother-in-law's
>that likes to dismiss her daughter-in-law; we are best friends and have
>been for 12 years. Nevertheless, she says this to me and I could not
>believe my ears. I said, "I know that's what it is; the doctor
>explained it perfectly and the website I've been going on is full of
>women with the same problems I'm having. How could you possibly think
>it's something else?"
>
>She hesitated for a few seconds before answering and said: "For one,
>you've had 3 kids, and no doctor has ever mentioned anything about it
>before. Second, you're in pain all of the time be it severe or
>moderate, and I just think that the doctor needs to look further to make
>sure we're not missing anything and that it couldn't be something else."
>OK with that said, she went with me to ER, to the doctor, and even
>mentioned on several ocassions that my doctor was a smart and
>professional lady and that she really liked her. Now that we have a
>diagnosis she is second guessing my doctor and what I'm going through.
>She doesn't believe that endo causes the problems I'm having because her
>friend that has it doesn't have it like I do. I tried to explain to her
>that her friend probably has it as bad as I do but doesn't realize it
>because she's on all kinds of pain meds for her other disabilities and
>therefore she doesn't feel the cramping, the pain, and all the other
>things that occur with this disease. She said, "Well that could be a
>possibility--she does take a lot of pain medication--but I just think we
>need to check into other areas before settling on this one thing."
>
>That really bothered me that she doesn't believe what my doctor has
>diagnosed. My husband said that he thinks the reason his mom won't
>settle for the endo diagnosis is because her mother had cervical and
>rectal cancer and for 5 years they said she had bladder problems and
>IBS, not cancer. They found her cancer when it was too late and she was
>given six months to live and died in 4. Maybe that could be the issue,
>but nevertheless it hurts to feel like someone doesn't believe me and
>that's exactly how it feels.
>
>--
>Endometriosis Online Support Group
>http://com3.runboard.com/bendometriosissupportgroup
>
>Average People Group
>http://com1.runboard.com/baveragepeople
>
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